Passive Voice


      English 6Th year

   Teacher:Silvana Antón
http://www.printwand.com/blog/media/2012/03/active-voice-vs-passive-voice.jpg
When is Passive voice used?
 It’s used when:

           THE FOCUS IS ON THE ACTION.


          THE PERFORMER IS NOT
            IMPORTANT OR UNKNOWM
Read these sentences:

Active Voice:

                        Mary writes a letter.

Passive Voice:



                        A letter is written (by Mary).

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_97Ujfb7Mbws/SkmnDdZNZEI/AAAAAAAAADw/M12OYRKIdFo/s320/cartas.gif
http://lh4.ggpht.com/-
9UUslf9pVWI/TimvnxsniRI/AAAAAAAAOVw/cAovT36Agvc/ni%2525C3%2525B1a%252520estudiando.gif.jpg
Structure:

   SUBJECT        VERB        OBJECT




OBJECT   BE + VERB P. PARTICIPLE   BY SUBJECT
IMPORTANT:
  What happens to the tense of the sentence?.
• It doesn`t change.
When we change an active sentence into a passive
  sentence:
The verb TO BE is in the same tense as the MAIN
  VERB

“Mary writes letters”

“Letters are written by Mary”


• It agrees with the new subject
To use one of the forms of verb to be,
     we have to meet two conditions:

                    be



The same tense           What agrees with
of the main verb         the new subject
                             ( object)
The Simple Present


             Active                                           Passive
They write / don’t write the science column.     The science column is/ isn’t written by them.

He writes / doesn’t write the science columns.   The science columns are/ aren’t written by him.




   Do they write the science column?             Is the science column written by them?
   Does he write the science columns?            Are the science columns written by him?
The Present Progressive


               Active                                        Passive

He is fixing the stove.                       The stove is being fixed.

They aren’t using the main meeting room.      The main meeting room is not being used.




 Is the worker painting his condominium?      Is his condominium being painted?

 Are they finalizing their biology project?   Is their biology project being finalized?
The Present Perfect


             Active                                        Passive

He has broken / hasn’t broken the window.    The window has/hasn’t been broken (by
                                             him).
They have seen / have never seen a UFO in
this country before.                         A UFO has /has never been seen in this
                                             country before.



Has he (ever) broken the window?            Has the window (ever) been broken (by him)?

Have they (ever) seen a UFO in this         Has a UFO (ever) been seen in this country
country before?                             before?
The Simple Past


             Active                                           Passive

                                                      ‘Sense and Sensibility ‘ was written by
Jane Austen wrote ‘Sense and Sensibility ‘ in 1811.
                                                      Jane Austen in 1811.
No one knew his real name.
                                                      His real name wasn’t known.



   Did they arrange her birthday party?                Was her birthday party arranged?

Passive voice sil

  • 1.
    Passive Voice English 6Th year Teacher:Silvana Antón
  • 2.
  • 3.
    When is Passivevoice used?  It’s used when:  THE FOCUS IS ON THE ACTION. THE PERFORMER IS NOT IMPORTANT OR UNKNOWM
  • 4.
    Read these sentences: ActiveVoice: Mary writes a letter. Passive Voice: A letter is written (by Mary). http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_97Ujfb7Mbws/SkmnDdZNZEI/AAAAAAAAADw/M12OYRKIdFo/s320/cartas.gif http://lh4.ggpht.com/- 9UUslf9pVWI/TimvnxsniRI/AAAAAAAAOVw/cAovT36Agvc/ni%2525C3%2525B1a%252520estudiando.gif.jpg
  • 5.
    Structure: SUBJECT VERB OBJECT OBJECT BE + VERB P. PARTICIPLE BY SUBJECT
  • 6.
    IMPORTANT: Whathappens to the tense of the sentence?. • It doesn`t change. When we change an active sentence into a passive sentence: The verb TO BE is in the same tense as the MAIN VERB “Mary writes letters” “Letters are written by Mary” • It agrees with the new subject
  • 7.
    To use oneof the forms of verb to be, we have to meet two conditions: be The same tense What agrees with of the main verb the new subject ( object)
  • 8.
    The Simple Present Active Passive They write / don’t write the science column. The science column is/ isn’t written by them. He writes / doesn’t write the science columns. The science columns are/ aren’t written by him. Do they write the science column? Is the science column written by them? Does he write the science columns? Are the science columns written by him?
  • 9.
    The Present Progressive Active Passive He is fixing the stove. The stove is being fixed. They aren’t using the main meeting room. The main meeting room is not being used. Is the worker painting his condominium? Is his condominium being painted? Are they finalizing their biology project? Is their biology project being finalized?
  • 10.
    The Present Perfect Active Passive He has broken / hasn’t broken the window. The window has/hasn’t been broken (by him). They have seen / have never seen a UFO in this country before. A UFO has /has never been seen in this country before. Has he (ever) broken the window? Has the window (ever) been broken (by him)? Have they (ever) seen a UFO in this Has a UFO (ever) been seen in this country country before? before?
  • 11.
    The Simple Past Active Passive ‘Sense and Sensibility ‘ was written by Jane Austen wrote ‘Sense and Sensibility ‘ in 1811. Jane Austen in 1811. No one knew his real name. His real name wasn’t known. Did they arrange her birthday party? Was her birthday party arranged?